Camp Verde (Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott: environment, tornadoes, gated)

[rupz28]

What is anybody's opinion about the Camp Verde area?

What is the cost of living in this area like...I'm reading all these comments about how the California influx is making the cost of living outrageous, in Sedona, Prescott etc.

Can a school teacher afford a small starter house in this area, or other small towns in this area of the state?

I just finished up my certification in Michigan and am looking seriously at this area of AZ.

Is it somewhat true that Phoenix and Flagstaff are this state's equivalent of LA and San Fran in CA? In terms of cost, immigrants etc.

Thanks

[arizonapeach]

Check out Graham County for your search of possible areas. I live in Safford and think it is a great area to raise children, therefore teach them in your case.

[mritz]

I have lived in Camp Verde now for 7 years. I moved from the Cave Creek area (suburb of Phoenix) to raise my small children in a small town environment. I have not been disappointed. Pace is much slower than Phoenix - less to do, but people have more time for one another. Crime is almost non-existant in most areas. The location is one of the most convenient in all of Arizona. Phoenix, Prescott, and Flagstaff are all within 1 hours drive. Sedona is 30 minutes away. The Grand Canyon is 2-3 hours away.

Weather is great. Typical Arizona sunshine, but much cooler in the mornings and evenings than Phoenix, due to elevation (about 3500 feet +/-). Winters are mild, with no snow, but light dustings on the surrounding mountains periodically. No tornadoes, no earthquakes, no hurricanes, very few mosquitos (I grew up in Illinois - I know something about mosquitos).

Property prices have increased substantially in this area over the past several years, as have those in the rest of the state, and most of the nation. Median home price is about $300,000 for site-built housing. Site-built homes can be found from $175,000 to $250,000, but are typically sold fairly quickly, and are usually on smaller lots (most of the lots in this area average about 3/4 of an acre or more), or are older homes needing work. Manufactured homes range from about $80,000 to $150,000. Nice new homes from 1100 sq.ft. to 1700 sq.ft. on small lots can be purchased for $200,000 to $250,000.

Camp Verde schools need good teachers. Schools are improving, but still do not have the scholastic record that is typical in schools in the midwest or east coast.

In my opinion, Camp Verde has an extremely positive outlook for the future. Substantial recent improvements have been made in the down town area, the town has recently won several awards for the quality of their town events put on by the Parks and Recs department, such as Pecan and Wine Festival, Cornfest (excellent sweet corn from local favorite Hausers Farm), Crawdad Festival, etc., and recent highway improvements and higher caliber commercial development have improved the town's appearance and image.

Population is currently around 10,000, but growth is occurring.

Church community is very active in this area. Lots of family-oriented people in the area. Youth sports have high participation.

Cons: Limited shopping, but additional shopping is available in Cottonwood (15 minutes away) or in Prescott, Phoenix, and Flagstaff. Mixed quality of housing in some areas that permit both manufactured and site-built. Limited employment opportunities outside of government (schools, city government, etc.), local casino, and construction related trades. Ratio between median incomes and housing prices is not good compared to more affordable places in the nation. If you want big city life, this is not the place for you - town rolls up the carpet around 9:00 pm on a friday night unless a special event is going on...

[brian_2]

CV is ideal for folks looking for a blue collar town where there's little worry about being intimidated by educated thinking people. Check out the town library - that speaks (no pun intended) volumes. Talk of a new library is just talk so far. There are nice areas such as irrigated ranches and the like, but the developers have arrived with a mission to build. The town of CV is ever ready to kiss the developers ass - everyone involved has their own selfish self interests. If you want to see a "make a fast buck off you on Friday", "see you in church on Sunday" place - you've got it. The Quarterhorse area in CV that typifies old CV with beautiful trees/horses/farms - now has a large development going in with more development planned. Everyday I pass another huge development going in next to the small (main) two lane road out of CV toward Payson. It won't be long before much of the rural ambiance is compromised to the point where they'll be little reason to stay. Can you say traffic? They better expand that two lane to four and not just pay it lip service, it's going to be a big f-ing mess. Still, If you are looking for a church on Sunday, wash the pickup trucks in the driveway on Saturday, a place where faces are almost universally white, CV may still fit your bill. Cowboy up bubba if you must, but even cowboys and ranchers are cashing out and leaving - the developers are buying up all their land for more development.

[PhyllHadd]

I personally love Camp Verde. But the housing prices are way above my means. I just recently looked at a 2 bedroom 1 bath on an irrigated acre for sale by owner. They were asking $370,000! I make $48,000 a year, no way can I afford even a two bedroom house! I'm hoping to move to Pine AZ in December. Camp Verde is warm in the summer, I will be going to a higher elevation for cooler summers. After reading what Brian2 said, I couldn't agree more. His thoughts are right on.

Hope this helps!

[mcbadhair]

It off the highway 17 but fast drive to oak creak village. I don't like it because u have to drive all the way to cottonwood to buy anything other than food. Its really small and trailer city(meaning lots of trailers). People ask way to much money for dumps. This is because of sedona where now you have to be rich just rent in sedona.
As for jobs there is close to nothing, really nothing. You have to drive to sedona to work in serivce jobs mostly. I cottonwood it mostly medical jobs there. Go to www.redrocknews.com and the classified to see jobs.

[Laurel]

It's a small town, but the best part about it is the year-round mild climate. As for teaching, the school has a hard time keeping teachers. The students have more to do with it than the administration. They seem to decide if they like the teacher, and then they are either perfectly behaved, or absolutely terrible, depending on their opinion of you. It's somewhat obnoxious. The older students, high school usually, are the ones that do that. Anything below high school is much better; the students don't believe they have supreme power yet.